What was happening when almost the whole city came together?

This happened on the next Sabbath after Paul had first preached in the synagogue. News of his message about Jesus spread quickly, so on that Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of God. It was not just Jews, but a mixed crowd that included many Gentiles. The large turnout showed how strongly people wanted to hear more about this new message of salvation. At the same time, the big crowd stirred up jealousy in some of the Jews, which soon led to open opposition.

Why were the Jews filled with envy at Paul’s preaching?

The Jews saw huge crowds coming to hear Paul and Barnabas, and instead of rejoicing, many were filled with envy. They did not want these preachers, or this message about Jesus, to gain such influence among the people. Their jealousy pushed them to speak against what Paul said, even to the point of blaspheming. Rather than weighing the message fairly, they hardened themselves because they could not bear to see others drawn to it. Their envy showed a heart that cared more about status than about truth.

What does it mean that they judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life?

When Paul says, “you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life,” he is saying that by rejecting the gospel, they were in effect passing sentence on themselves. God offered them the word of life first, but they pushed it away. By refusing God’s way of righteousness in Christ, they showed they did not value the eternal life He promised. No outside court condemned them; their own refusal of the message showed where they stood. Their unbelief was not a small thing but a serious turning from God’s gift.

Why did Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles in this passage?

Paul and Barnabas first brought the word of God to the Jews, because that was God’s order: the message was to go to them first. But when many of them refused it and spoke against it, the apostles said openly that they would now turn to the Gentiles. They did this because the Lord had commanded that His servant be “a light of the Gentiles” and “for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” So this move was not a change of plan, but part of God’s purpose to bring salvation beyond Israel to other nations.

What does I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles mean here?

The phrase comes from God’s words about His servant, who would bring His salvation. In this passage it shows that the message about Jesus is not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. To be “a light of the Gentiles” means that through Christ, and through those who preach Him, God shines truth into places that were in spiritual darkness. Salvation is offered not just to one people but “unto the ends of the earth.” Paul and Barnabas understood their work as sharing in this calling to spread that light.

What does as many as were ordained to eternal life believed mean?

This line teaches that those who believed did so because God had already appointed them to eternal life. It does not say that they first believed and then were chosen, but that God’s choice came first and their faith followed. The wording has been read in more than one way, but the plain sense here is that God’s decision is the root, and faith is the fruit. Not everyone in the crowd believed, yet those whom God had set apart for life did believe when they heard the gospel. This shows that salvation rests on God’s grace.

How did the Gentiles respond when Paul turned to them?

When the Gentiles heard that the gospel was for them, they were glad. They had not grown up with the promises given to Israel, so hearing that God’s salvation reached them too filled them with joy. They glorified the word of the Lord, which means they honoured it, spoke well of it, and received it with thankful hearts. Many of them believed, and through their faith the message spread across the whole region. Their response is a clear picture of how gladly the good news can be received when people know it truly includes them.

Why did Paul and Barnabas shake off the dust of their feet?

Shaking off the dust of their feet was a way of showing that they had done their duty and were no longer responsible for how the city had treated the gospel. The Jews stirred up leading women and men to persecute them and drive them out. Instead of arguing or staying in anger, Paul and Barnabas made this gesture and moved on to Iconium. It was both a warning to those who had rejected the message and a sign that the servants of God must sometimes leave a hard place and go where the word will be received.

What does this passage teach about joy and the Holy Ghost in persecution?

At the end of the story, even though Paul and Barnabas had been driven out, the disciples in that city were “filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” This shows that joy in Christ does not depend on easy circumstances. The Holy Spirit gave these new believers a deep gladness because they had received the gospel and were now part of God’s people. Their teachers had left, and opposition was real, yet God Himself stayed with them. The Spirit’s presence brought comfort, strength, and a joy that enemies could not take away.

Acts.13.44

Acts 13:44

KJV

And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Paul Turns to the Gentiles

And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Cross References

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